Collector pan for absorbers



Jan, 27, 1931. u. A; CAMPBELL COLLECTQRfAN FOR ABSORBERS F-ileq April19. 1927' 2. Sheets-Sheet. 1

Izzaerztar Julia/2 .fl. Cam 5e Jan. 1931. A CAMPBELL 1,790,224

COLLECTOR PAN FOR ABSORBERS Filed April 19, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Julia/z A .19. Cam Jail.

llz'aenlon I Patented Jan. 27, 1931 UNITED S Tris Para

N'roFFi cn JULIAN no CAMPBELL, or LonsfBnAoH, canrronma COLLECTOR PANron ABSORBIEiRS Application filed April 19,

This invention has to do with devices of g the type commonly known asabsorbers, and

ly absorbers are usually used for absorbing vapors or gases from agas-into an absorbing -L V liquid but they may be used ,for oppositetransferof such vapors; and. in generaltheir function is that ofbringing two fluids intomore or less intimate cOntactsoLthat anabsorbable fluid carried by one of the carrier fiuids'may be absorbedinto-the other, the, general operation 'beingone in which anequilibriuln, as regards carriage of vapors, is reached as between theoriginal carrier'fiuid and the absorbent fluid. Thus such devicesas Ihereinafter explain are not only commonly used as absorbers, but also asde-gasifi'ers or vapor separators or as dephlegmators.

In the type of apparatu's'of which I speak 39 here particularly, andreferring to its typical use for absorbing vapors from a gas into aliquid, the absorbing liquid is assed down through a tower from floorto" 'oor, the upwardly traveling gas passing through the 3 liquid ateach floor to form froth, the froth being continuously broken up aboveeach floor and the resultant clear absorbing liquid passing down to thefloor next below, there again to be refrothed. That is the general 40mode of operation of the absorber explained in my said priorapplication; For breaking up the froth above each floor'a pan or seriesof pans is provided, preferably with sharp edges over-which the liquidflows when the 5 body of froth reaches the level of those; edges.

In flowing-over the sharp edge, at the upper surface of the bodyoffroth, thefroth is bro.- ken up and, within-the operating capacity rangeof the device, nothing but clear liquid flows over into the pan. Theliquid then passing up through the tube instead of pass- 1927. {SerialNo. "184,867.

flows from that "pan through a stand'pipev down through the floor to apoint near thev floor'next below; and the hydrostatic head of liquid inthe tube prevents the gas from 111 up through theperforated floors. Thathydrostatic head thus represents the limit of difference of pressurethat can be applied to opposite sides of any, perforated floor. If

the froth is not well broken up as it passes over into; the pan, so thatfroth rather than;

clear liquid then stands in the tube, the perm'issiblejoperatingpressure is lessened or the gas passesv upwardly through the tube andfroth and absorbing liquid are eventually carried 01a" from the-"finalgasdischa-rge ofi'z:

' theapparatus. And the presence of entrained gas in the liquid alsocuts down its vapor absorbing ability. Thus the effective capacity aswell as the efficiency of the apparatus are dependent uponeflicientbreakingi'ip of the froth 'so'that'the absorbing liquid is delivereddownwardly from floor to floor freed from gas to the largestpossible-degree.

have found that ,by increasing the extent of the froth breakingpan-edge, without at the'same time-increasing the size of the pans -andthereby decreasing the upper free area ofthe body. of froth, Icanremarkably increase the capacity and efiiciency of such an absorptionapparatus. As I have said, both the'capacity and efficiency of theapparatus depend upon the froth being well broken up so; thatnothing'but clear liquid passes from floor to floor; but at the sametime in an absorber it is desirable and necessary that the upper;surface of the body of froth present comparatively large area for thefree relief I and passage off ofthe entrained gas. Speci- ,tlcally my.invention is aimed at increasing the capacity'of the froth breaking edgewithdrawings, in which l isa more or less diagrammatic elevation of anabsorbing tower of the type ii i) ltt) -isusually injthe I shell; 10 andprovided with a nuinbe spaced superposed perforated floors 11. ,Aboveeach floor I usually place a number ofand vertical section showing thepans and their arrangements;

Fig. 5 is a furtherei'ilarged detail section of a single pan; and a Fig.6 is a section siinilair-to that of Fig.

5, showing a modified formof pan.

The absorbing apparatus ofwhich'l speak Of a tower having a pans 12,each mounted on a tube 13 which passes through the corresponding floorand ends at a point near the floor next below, as is shown in Figs. 1and l', the lower end of each tube usually being provided with aspreader or distributor" such as illustrated at 14. In the operation ofsuchan absorber the laden gas is fed in at the 'bot-tom as-at 15 and thedenuded gas, passes out at the top as at 16, the lean absorbing liquidbeing fed in through a pipe 17 'andya distributor 18 above theuppermost'fioor, and; the laden absorbing liquid'being taken out at the bottom asat 19. Gas is fed in under a suitable pressure and the pressure dropfrom floor to floor issufiicient to force the gas up through liquiddistributed over the successive perforated floors, and to froth it andsufficient to prevent the liquid from passing down throughtheperforations. The liquid and gas form a mass of frothover eachfloor,-and

Jpractical results. This toothed or serrated the froth rises to a levelsuchas'indicated at L in Fig. l, substantially at the level of the upperedges of the'pans. At its uppersurface the froth tends to break,up,thegas passingupwardly into the space above the froth? body and-thenpassing on up through the nest perforated floor, and the released liquidflowing over the edge'of the pan.' This flow. of the released liquidover the pan edge creates a surface flow of the froth and liquid towardthe pans, the gas is relieved at the" surface, and the breaking up ofthe froth and release of the gas and liquid takes place most largelywhere the froth passes over the edge of the pan, that edge being.preferably sharp.

I have found that I can materially increase the fr'oth'breaking capacityof the apparatus and at the same time-maintain a large free upper frothsurface by forming the edge of the pan into a plurality of serrations orteeth 20, as illustrated in the drawings. 1 find in practice that teethof about the proportionate width and depth illustrated give very goodedge of the panis preferably.formed by shearing or punching so that asharp raw as shown at 26.

Besides serrating the edges of the panl also preferably 01 A-IA I lacewithin'the pan a ring w'hichhas serrations pr teeth 22at both its upperand lower edges, the ring being pref era-bly supported somewhat abovethe bot- "tom of thepan by suitable supports 23 and the upper edge ofthe ring being lower than the e tl'ge'of'the pan. Again, within thisring, I may place an inverted cup 2 1 perforated as at 25 through it stop' wall, supported with its lower edge above the bottom of the pan,and its lower edge alsobeing'toothed'or serrated The serrated edges ofthe ring and cup' 'are also preferably sharp and preferably made in thesame manner asthe edge ofthe pan. These serrated edges add verymateriallyj to the aggregate length of froth breakingeege presentedbyeach pan, and any froth that passes unbroken over the serrated edge ofthe panproperisahnost sure of being broken'up in, passingunder or overthe serrated edges of the ring and underthe serrated edge of the-cup.Any gas freed within the cup may pass p'wardlyfthrou'gh perforations 255and"at thesanie time the upper wall of the cup "protects the tube 13 toa' position abovethe upper end of tube 13 without passing first over theedge ofthe pan and thenfover orunder the edges of the ringand thenfinallyunder the'edge-of the cup. 7 c

The result'ofv this arrangement is that the froth is very thoroughlybroken at-acomparativelyhigh rate and that substantially nothing butclear liquid freed of gas passes downrintotube j. 13 to be delivered tothe next floor. Tubei'l3 therefore atall times is more or lessfilledwith-clear "liquid and the differential 'gas pressure maintained fromfloor to floor may be as high as that-represented by the hydrostatichead of liquid in the wvliole length of the tube 13. Thus' 'theoperating gas pressure may be relatively much hi her than it couldbe ifthe tubes contained some froth, the gas can therefore be passed throughthe ap paratu's to froth the oil faster and the capacity for breakingfroth is high enough tdtake care of this faster formation of froth.Thecapacityof the whole apparatus is thus verymaterially increased, andfurthermore the absorbing efficiency of'the apparatus isincreased be;cause the absorbingliquideach time it is passed from floor to floor isfreed of itemtrained gas and therefore has ahigher vapor absorbingcapacity than it-would have'if it were i more or less" loaded withentrained gas as it moves *down from floor to floor. 1

latt s The general feature underlying'my inven- "tion lies in theprovision of a froth breaking edge so to speak, that presents asubstantially greater aggregate froth breaking length than the lengthofthe periphery of the pan itself, thus enabling the pan toremaincomparatively small, as set forth, and

yet present a large aggregate length-of froth breaking edge. A fine wirewill present 'a' 40 carrying an upper rim of fine wire screen.

41. The froth flows over the upper edge and through meshes of the finewire screen, the fine wires forming multiple edges of great aggregatelength that break up the froth.

Inside the rim of the pan and below its upper edge may be located ascreen ring 42 and then inside that ring there may be the inverted cup43 similar to that inverted cup 24,

except that it may have at its lower edge the fine wire screen 44 forbreaking up the froth. Also in Fig. 6 I illustrate a pan with a slopingbottom 45, the sloping bottom tending to I feed the liquid toward theliquid delivery breaking edge.

tube 13 I claim: v, 1. In a device of the character described havingmeans for forming a body of froth from. liquid and gas, froth breakingmeans comprisng a pan havinga rim presenting a sharp froth breaking edgeof a total length substantially greater than the periphery of itsbottom, and presenting a sharp froth 2. In a device. of the having meansfor forming a body of froth from liquid and gas, froth breaking meanscomprising a panhaving a rim presenting a sharp froth breaking edge of atotal length substantially greaterthan the periphery of the pan, aliquid delivery tube leadingdownwardly from the bottom of the pan, andan inverted cup located over the liquid delivery tube and presenting asharp froth breaking edge around the lower part of its rim.

3. In a device of the character described having means for forming abody of froth from liquid and gas, froth breakingnieans comprising a.pan having a rim presenting breaking edge, a liquid delivery tubeleading downwardly from the bottom of the pan, and

an inverted cup located over the liquid delivery tube and presenting asharp froth character described rim. v p a 4:. Ina device of thecharacter described having means for forming a body of froth fromiliquidand.gas, ;froth breaking means comprising a panwith 'a se'rrated sharpedge, and a serrated edged annulus "within the pan supported above itsbottom and-below the pa edge.

5. In a device of the chara'cter described having means for forming abody of froth .fromliquid and gasffroth breaking. means comprising a panwitha serrated sharp'edge,

breaking edge aioiindtthe lower part of: its

a liquid. delivery tube extending dowi'ixfrom the center of the pan, aninverted cup sup ported above the bottom ofthe pan over the liquiddelivery tube, the upper wall of said cup being perforated and itslower'edgebeing sharp and serrated,and an annulus supporteci in the panabove its bottom andbelowthepan edge and spaced between the pan edge andthe cup, both the upper and lower" edges of the annulus being sharp andserrated. V 6. .In a ClBVlCQ of the character descr bed having neansforforminga body of froth from liquid and gas, frothbreaking. and

liquidideliverymeans comprising a pan with a sharp froth breaking'edge,aliquid delivery tube extendin down fromthe-"center of the V 7' I i .1

pan, and an lIlVBIiGGClCllP supported over the upper end of the tubeto"protect' against entry of froth. 7. In a device "of the characterdescribed having-means for forming abody offf'roth from liquid and gas,'froth breaking and V V q a liquid delivery means comprising a pan withthe pan and a froth breaking element located inside the pan below itsupperedge and above a shar-p'froth breaking edge, a. liquid delivery iootube" extending" down from the center of the "pa-n, andan inverted cupwith a lower sharp l I froth breaking edge and a perforated upper wall,supported over theupper end of thetube" 1 toprotect it.against-'entryof'g'f'rothf '8; In a devicebf the character: described, I an exteriorshell, a "plurarlity'of superposed,

spaced 'xandperforated "floors in the shell, means to deliver liquidover the uppermost fioor, meansto" deliver gas' under the lowermostiloor spaced froth overflow pans with I edges at an elevation above eachfloor andwith liquid delivery tubes" extending. from the r bottomsthrough their corresponding floors to points above the floor-next below,

said pans occupying less than'the whole hori- .zontalsectionalarea overthe fioor so as to leave afconsiderable;froth 'area uncovered, "andsaidfpans having serrated froth breaking edges.

,9. In a device of the.characterdescribed,

an exterior shell, a plurality of superposed.-

spaced and perforated floors in the shell, means to deliver liquid overthe uppermost floor, means to deliverfgas underrthe lowermost floor,spaced froth overfiow'pans with edges at an elevation aboveeachfloor andY with liquid delivery tubes'extendi' ig from :4 i ama h r bot th e theen sspaadine floors to points above the floor next below,

said; pans occupying less than .the wholeg-liorizontal sectional; areaover the floor ,solas .to

5 leave-a considerable froth aarea uncovered, said pans having {serratedfroth .breaking edges; and a serrated troth breakingannulus withineachfpan above .ltS' bOtlZOIII and'b-elow its edge. 7

' 10. ,Inadevice ofthe character described,

an exterior shell, a plurality "of superposed spaced-and perforatedfloorsin the shell, means to deliver liquid over the ,uppermost -floor,means to deliver gas l'under the lowernrost-fioor,spaced frothoverflowpans with edges atan elevation-above each'fiooraand With-liquid deliverytub'es extending from their bottoms through their corresponding floorstopoints above the floor nextl below,

said pansoccupying .lessthan the twholehori- V zontal sectional areaover the floor so as to leave a considerable froth areauncovered, saidpans havingserrated'froth breaking edges a serrated froth breakingannulus ,within each panabove its bottom and .beloW its edge, saidannulus having serrated upper and lower edges, and aninvertedcup'supported'centrally in the, pan aboveitsbottom, said cuphaving serrated lo-vveriedge and Q havingaperrforated top Wall, saidcupstanding overthe liquid delivery'tube. v

11. In a. device of the character described havinga neansaforrforming a.body of "froth y from liquid {and gas, froth v breaking and liquiddelivery means,coinprising aJpan having' a rim presenting a sharpfrotlrbreaking edge of'a. total length substantially greater [than theperiphery of the pan,-and aliquid delivery.-t-ube,extendingdownfrlolnthe ,pan fand Within said frothbody, the frothbeing .adaptedtooverflowinto saidtpan-and to become brokenupbythe sharp rim thereof, andthe liquid invthepa-nthencebeing conducted "downwardly.through saidpipe. V 12. In a deviceofthecharacter described having means for forminga;body of roth ,from liquid and gas, I froth vjbreaki ngj and v:liquiddeliverymeans comprising afpan havinga rim presentinga serratedsharpiedge, and'a-liquid delivery tubete-Xtending doyvn from the pan andwithinsaid frotlrbodyithe froth beingadapted to overfi ow into saidpanand tobecome broken up by the vsharplrim thereof, and the liquid inthe;pan thence being conducted downwardly throughsaidpi-pe.

In Witness that I.clainftheeforegoing-I V have hereunto subscribed myname this 129' ,dayof March, 1927. .7

- UL AN A.1,CA PBELL-

